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Weaning off oil, Scottish islands eye renewable future

Monday, February 20, 2017 - 05:50

A Shetland gas plant. Environmentalists are pinning their hopes on another energy asset under the waters around Shetland. Scotland has 24 per cent of Europe's entire marine energy potential because of its powerful tides.

PHOTO: AFP

Lerwick, United Kingdom

STRONG winds and stormy seas have helped turn the Shetland Islands in the North Atlantic into a European renewable energy giant, producing more power than it knows what to do with.

The tidal power underwater turbines that were completed last month are only